KNARESBOROUGH

 Knaresborough has a fascinating and varied history. Its roots go back centuries and throughout its long history it has been peopled with a wealth of characters, from Hugh de Morville, murderer of Thomas Beckett on the steps of his cathedral at Canterbury, to Blind Jack, the world renowned road builder.

For most of its history, Knaresborough Castle has been in royal control, and it has retained this long tradition to the present day. It is now in the possession of the Crown, as part of the Queen's inheritance of the Duchy of Lancaster - something that irks most of the Yorkist residents of this pretty little town.
After the battle of Marston Moor in July 1644, the castle was besieged, and finally surrendered when cannon breached the wall on December 20. In 1646 Parliament ordered the castle to be rendered untenable, and by 1648 demolition had commenced.

Throughout the town, you can find these reminders of the Civil War, and of the Royalists' battle against the Commonwealth troops. If you think about it though, these Georgian houses weren't built until long after the Civil War ended!

This is the beautiful view from the curtain wall of the 14th. century castle, looking out over the River Nidd, the Forest of Knaresborough, and the Victorian railway viaduct that spans the River Nidd. The viaduct was built in 1851 to carry a branch line of the Leeds & Thirsk Railway and is 78 feet above the water